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We camped at Burnside for three nights over the May weekend 2011. The tent area is located down behind the reception block, within the trees by the stream. Not a large area, but several large tents as well as smaller tents managed to squeeze in without it feeling cramped.
One downside was the back of the reception block, which had a lot of building materials stored there which was unsightly. We didn't use it, but there was plenty electric hookup points around.
There is a stream beside the camping area, which was very low at the time, and safe enough for the kids to paddle. However, I would be more concerned if it was higher. There is also a dammed section further up, which has a deep pool.
The toilet/shower block is kept very clean, but get there early as the hot water runs out mid morning. This also affected washing up too.
The kids enjoyed the play area, which had a new climbing frame, and we felt we could leave them to play there without worrying too much. The pool was a small rectangular pool inside what looked like a large greenhouse, but did the turn. It's only open for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon, and the wardens were very strict about getting people out on time. In fact, a friend reported that the warden wedged the changing room door open in order to hurry people out. There is also a charge, £1 per adult, and (I think) 50p per child.
The wardens themselves were friendly enough, but through the day, it was not obvious where they were if the reception was closed. The site itself was quite noisy through the day, but this didn't really bother us as our kids were making noise too. It was quiet at night, and we slept OK. There is noise from the A96, but you hear this less in the tent area, it is worse if you're pitched up near the road.
Fochabers itself is a lovely town only a 10 min walk through the woods, and yes the ice cream is great. We also had a great day out at Spey Bay, and Baxters is worth a visit.
Pros
- child friendly site - clean, well looked after facilities - for families - a good base to explore the local area
Cons
- get in the shower early as the water runs out - charge to use the pool - charge for wi-fi (£5 per day) we didn't use it - not for you if your expecting a quiet site
All in all, combined with good company and weather, we really enjoyed our stay at Burnside and would go back.
Well we last reviewed this site in 2008 and thought we should update due to the amount of changes they have carried out.
The site owners seem to have invested heavily in this site with the toilet block now fully refurbed and the river walk totally redesigned with timber bridges and a peaceful walk through the site. Each pitch now has elec, water, and waste, as standard and a tv hook up point
The staff are still very friendly and welcoming however we are noticing now the price is rising with many additional extras. A pitch is £22 (at time of writing) with an additional £2 for an awning wifi is an additional £5 and the pool is charged at £2 for adults and £1 for children. If you base all this on a family of 4, the spend per night including pool use and wifi is £35 per night. Other sites around are offering similar or better services at half the cost!
Fochabers is a lovely place with lots to offer and a visit to the ice cream parlour is a must. Ranges from bubblegum flavour to the old classics like mint choc chip taste better when home made.
The office displays a list of evening events in the town with weekly entertainment in the British Legion.
Great site this. Good kids playground. The caravans seem to be fairly spaced out, although I must admit my opinion on this could be coloured because we struck lucky with a nice quiet corner. All caravans are well presented and maintained. The setting is glorious, surrounded by trees. Reception staff are friendly and helpful. Pitches for tents are by a secluded stream.
My only criticisms would be the lack of any kind of even basic provisions (milk, bread, margarine, tea etc) in the camp shop, the cost of wifi access (£5 a day is a bit steep IMO) and the laundry facilities - not sufficient for the size of the site, and no clear instructions provided as to how to use them properly inone of the 2 laundry rooms.
Burnside is a lovely wee place, mainly statics and touring caravans but has a few tent pitches near the burn. Friendly and helpful owners make you very welcome on arrival and there are not any prissy rules to stick to as long as you are sensible.
Facilities are basic but very good. Swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna are an excellent bonus on a camp site and the kids loved it, only £1 for kids and £2 for adults. Didn't try out the shower block as we went swimming every day! Toilets kept clean, although floor was muddy most of the time (unavoidable when raining/camping!), staff did do their very best to keep on top of this. There is a nice play area for the kids where they all gathered and played together. There is also a small games room with TV, pool table, air hockey and table football, all at 20p a shot.
This is our first time to the Moray Coast and we will definitely be returning, so much to see and do and you don't have to spend a fortune to appreciate it either. Lossiemouth has a fantastic beach, with the fighter jets circling the bay every minute, Portknockie has a paddling pool built in to the well sheltered harbour (we were actually swimming in the sea!), Spey Bay has a wildlife centre and coffee shop where you can learn about Dolphins, Whales, birds, seals and much, much more. Fochabers itself is a lovely wee place with a couple of shops for essentials, an excellent fish & chip shop, and an ice cream shop that is second to none - do not go home without trying some!
Fochabers is a very busy place traffic wise, as it is the main route between Aberdeen and Inverness, however a new bypass is under construction which will vastly improve things.
All in all, kids had a fantastic time here (every time we went somewhere, they were bugging us to go back to the camp site!), will definitely be returning next year.
Just spent a couple of days here,stumbled over the site while touring. No pitches so you can choose where you like, we had an electric pitch which I think are quite a few. Nice shower blocks and always clean and well stocked staff very helpful and no strict rules like some camps although all quiet by about 11. Plenty facilities for the children, swimming pool, though we did not use it. Village is only a 5 minute walk through the woods with pubs, shops etc great site would go back again
We initially booked for a two night stay with electric but due to one of the kids being sick had to cancel the first night at short notice. We were only charged for a one night stay when we arrived which we were quite pleased about.
The site itself is very well maintained. The toilets were clean and the shower facilities were very clean. The play area kept our boys busy all through our stay. There was an indoor pool available but on this occasion we didn't use it. Our friends did and they were quite happy with this facility.
There is a small hall on site which has entertainment most weekends. Unfortunately there was no entertainment when we were there but the Warden did let us access the hall. This was a godsend as it was quite cold later on in the evening and we were there camping with a few of our friends.
All in all we were very impressed with this site and would definitely recommend it and return to it. The wardens and staff were very helpful and really made us feel welcome.
The site is very family friendly so if you are after a relaxing, quiet camping break you might want to give this site a miss. If you are a family going camping then this is definitely a site you should consider.
Small site in an easy to find location but the site is in need of some freshening up/investment.
The cons:- Kids play area looked a bit dodgy - equipment well past it's best, and noise from the A96 through the night hampered a good nights sleep.
The pros:- Swimming pool although looked drab initially was really very nice and the old style public bath changing rooms were a trip back to my youth! The pool was lovely and warm. Short walk into town (past the village play park) for the facilities in Fochabers. Friendly people.
Stayed at this site for 2 nights on the beginning of a 3 week touring holiday. Due to the size of our outfit we were pitched on a residential space but it was lovely and secluded in amongst trees next to the burn.
Site was well kept and the swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna were excellent. Very friendly and helpful wardens.
Kids loved this site, highly recommended for families, would definitely come back
The wardens were friendly /shower facilities were clean but in need of renovation. My husband and son enjoyed the indoor pool and my son loved the play area. We were told to pitch our tent in front of the play area which was great during the day as our son was free to play with his friends without being out of sight.
Would maybe go back again as the site was so kid friendly and there were lovely winding woodland walks next to the site. There were also tennis courts and a park a few minutes walk away. But would not pitch up infront of the play area!
I must say that this is a fantastic site, our recent visit was the first time in over 20 years and there have been some changes in that time and all for the good. We are currently on day 4 of this trip and loving every minute, tomorrow is our last day and we will all be sad to leave.
The only downside we have found and its not a major one is traffic noise, the site is just off of the A96 Aberdeen To Inverness route so at times the traffic is busy but we got totally used to it so not an issue for us but may be for some others.
There is not a lot of information on the web about this site so it is difficult to assess before you try so to speak, in fact the most information I found was here on UKCampsite which was enough for me to go on and book our long weekend. It’s a pity as they have so much to offer.
Welcome
We made our booking about 6 weeks in advance over the phone, a very easy process, no requirement for a deposit etc. We arrived on site and went to reception where we were greeted by a friendly member of staff happy to see us. The booking in process was again straight forward taking no time at all, we were soon pointed in the direction of our pitch.
Our Pitch
We were allocated pitch No 9, a grass pitch nice an level and well kept which drained no problem when it rained. We camp in our Conway Crusader and I always set up broadside so tend to use all of the space allocated, here this ended up with us being a bit close to neighbours on either side, had I gone in length ways like Caravans do then we would not have been so close, I think this was also a concern of the wardens however it was fine so I would say the pitch size was adequate for most but there is that feeling that you are close to each other but certainly not cramped. As it was the holiday weekend the site was very busy so no matter where you looked it looked cramped, mainly due to cars etc.
I was told that there were only about 10 pitches for toureres here and that they were set up too close together, not true there are at least 50+ pitches mainly all hard standing with about 6 or so on grass. I suspect that this place has been upgraded and more pitches have been added, certainly since our last visit of 20 years ago.
The tent area is small, however directly opposite they have an area which has had new grass sown and looks as if it will be used to pitch more tents in the future.
The Facilities
The toilets and shower facilities are good, they look to have been recently upgraded as previous posts have stated that they look tired and in need of a facelift. There were only 2 showers in the gents but I never had to wait so this was not a problem and the site was full. The toilets were clean and kept clean more than once a day, each cubical has a wash basin to wash your hands and the hand driers do what they say and dry your hands with a good blast of warm air (I hate the ones that do no more than make a loud noise).
Part of the attraction of this place is the fact that they have a swimming pool, it has always been here, it is perfect for the kids and adults alike to enjoy themselves. There is also a Jacuzzi and a sauna room to be used. There is a token payment for the pool £1 for children and £2 per for adults per session, the Jacuzzi & Sauna are included in this. The sessions are from 09:30 to 12:30 then from 14:00 to 18:00 so this represents great value for money. Some pool toys are provided (Floats etc) others can be purchased from the shop/reception. Armbands are also available to purchase should you forget to take some, again reasonably priced at 99p a pair.
There is a games room which I never used, there is also a hall that can be used, they often arrange music and dancing etc on some weekends in the hall for campers to use, they did last night, I think you just bring your own beverage etc.
WIFI was installed on the day we arrived, I hooked up the laptop to check it out and found it had great speeds, all free no charge.Very impressed.
There is a laundry available and disabled facilities were also available a dish washing area for campers, all in all the facilities are excellent.
Surrounding Area
The surrounding area is lovely, mainly woodland with lots of walks available ranging from 15 mins to 3 hours, we did one yesterday of about 2 hours long. There is a very nice walk from campsite to town which is wooded for most of the way, I reckon that this in addition to being the most pleasant way to walk into town is also the quickest route, perfect for walking with kids or the dog. The pathway through this wood is lit all the way so again even at night time it is okay to use.
Fochabers itself is a nice town although there is not that much to do there. It has the shops you would expect, supermarkets, butchers etc. It is within easy walking distance from the campsite. There has been previous mention of busy traffic in Fochabers and yes that is true, its not so much as there is too much traffic, the problem is it gets congested with the through traffic passing through slowly as cars and trucks etc tend to park on the high street which inevitably slows things down.
Worth a mention is the local fish and chip shop, 10 out of 10, great chips, fantastic extensive menu, you would be hard pushed not to find something to your liking here. Also has a small cafe within.
TV Reception
This was not a problem, I had our Sky Dish and box with us and it took less than three minutes to get a perfect signal. TV reception looked crisp and clear also in peoples vans so I assume it was very easy for them to set up.
Summary
All in all this is a great campsite, very well kept and well worth adding to you calendar. It is ideally located for visiting this fantastic part of Scotland, you are literally 15 mins or less from the coast (Speyside), you then have a choice to go further afield and visit several north east coastal towns.
Facilities are great and give you value for money, very helpful staff, lovely surroundings. We will be returning here without doubt and can highly recommend this site.
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Common Questions
Is Burnside Caravan Park child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Burnside Caravan Park? There is a shop on site View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
The facilities shown on this website are a guide only, and you should check with the campsite direct before making any booking. The UKCampsite.co.uk will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions
Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
Holiday Homes for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Motorbikers Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
Baby Changing Facilities 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
No Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
Bar <1 mile 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway <1 mile 
Kids Playground 
No TV Room 
No Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
No Fishing 
No Wild Swimming 
No Indoor Pool 
No Outdoor Pool 
No Horse Riding 
No Cycle Hire 
Golf <5 miles 
No Tennis 
No Beach 
No Watersports 
No Boat Launch 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
We camped at Burnside for three nights over the May weekend 2011. The tent area is located down behind the reception block, within the trees by the stream. Not a large area, but several large tents as well as smaller tents managed to squeeze in without it feeling cramped. 
